MP Charged With Assault And Criminal Damage

MP Eric Joyce has been charged with two counts of common assault and one count of criminal damage.

The 54-year-old representative for Falkirk will appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on December 30.

The former Labour MP has insisted that he was only trying to detain a young vandal during the incident on October 17.

He said he did not feel he was "in the wrong".

Writing on his blog following his arrest in October, former Army major Mr Joyce said: "I detained a youth in a shop in London. Damage had been done to the store.

"I asked the shopkeeper to call the police, and when officers arrived they arrested the youth and informed me that drugs had been recovered from the scene.

"The officers also informed me that the youth had immediately made a complaint that I had assaulted him by detaining him. I was questioned by the police and told that because of my identity the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Metropolitan Police Press Office would be informed of the incident.

"I understand the Metropolitan Police has now made the matter public. I will make no further comment for now, other than to say a) that no alcohol was involved and b) I am not in the habit of summoning the police if I feel that I am in the wrong."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said a 14-year-old boy who was arrested for possession of cannabis was later given a youth reprimand.